A volley of barbs reportedly sent a routine House Oversight Committee hearing into disarray — and nearly turned into a rumble.
Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) clashed over an attempt to consider bringing contempt proceedings for Attorney General Merrick Garland for blocking the release of audio tapes related to an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden based on his interview with special counsel Robert Hur. The dust-up drew in not only Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) as a protector, but also Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) as the silent enforcer — apparently pining to settle the matter with fists.
“When AOC jumped in so quickly, what people didn't see off camera was that Ayanna Pressley was ready to jump in and stood up and... it was gonna get into a fight,” Crockett told The Independent of the May 17 spat caught on camera.
Greene fired the first salvo.
"I would like to know if any of the Democrats on this committee are employing Judge [Juan] Merchan’s daughter," the Georgia pol quipped.
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Crockett asked for clarification.
She said: "What does that have to do with Garland?"
"I don’t think you know what we’re here for," Greene said. "I think your fake eyelashes are messing up your reading."
The insult prompted Ocasio-Cortez to formally demand the jab be stricken from the record.
"I do have a point of order, and I would like to move to take down Ms. Greene’s words. That is absolutely unacceptable. How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person... move her words down," she said.
"Are your feelings hurt?" Greene taunted.
"Oh girl, baby girl!" Ocasio-Cortez shot back. "Don’t even play!"
And it was then that Crockett floated a hypothetical to Oversight Chairman James Comer: “I'm just curious to better understand your ruling, if someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleach blonde, bad-built butch body — that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?”
A confused Comer was at a loss trying to make sense of the question.
"A what now," he asked.
Greene later fired back at Crockett saying: “Yes my body is built and strong NOT with nips, tucks, plastic, or silicone, but through a healthy lifestyle.”
It appears there were hearty amounts of alcohol being consumed by Congress members that night.
Crockett capitalized on the viral moment, seizing the trademark for the phrase, “BLEACH BLONDE BAD BUILT BUTCH BODY,” first reported by USA Today.
Crockett doesn't regret the back-and-forth as she believes it shows the kind of prejudice she and other lawmakers face.
“The bigger story that kind of emerged from this was what women of color face at work,” she explained. “When you're by yourself, people take liberties, but when they realize that you're not by yourself, it definitely puts them in a different light and puts them in a different stance.”
Watch the clip below or at this link.
